Bumper-beam step-bracket.



F. J. HARRISON & W. J. KNOX. BUMPER BEAM STEP BRACKET. APPLICATION FQILED mm]. 1-914.

1.135.5W. Patented Apr. 13, 1915.

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F. J. HARRISON & W. J KNOX.

BUMPER BEAM STEP BRACKET.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1, 1914.

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ump ear FREDERICK J. HARRISON AND WILLIAM J. KNOX, 0F DUBOIS, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS TO CAST STEEL PILOT COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

BUMPER-BEAM STEP-BRACKET.

menses.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented Apr.13, iais.

Application filed March 7, 1914. Serial No. 823,143.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FREDERICK J. HAR- RISON and WILLIAM J. KNOX, citizens of the United States, residing at Dubois, Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Bumper-BeamStep- Brackets, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains' to make and use the same, referenee being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- 1 Figure l is a front elevational view of our improved step brackets in position on a locomotive bumper beam. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the bumper beam and step brackets. Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken approximately on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4c is a vertical section taken approximately on the line 44 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of abumper beam to which is applied a modified form of our improved step brackets. Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken approximately on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken approximately on the line 77 of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a further modified form of the step bracket. Fig. 9 is a vertical section through a bumper beam and showing a step bracket of the form seen in Fig. 8, positioned thereon.

Our invention relates to brackets particularly intended for use in connection with locomotives used in switching service, said brackets being adapted to support step boards at the front of the engine and at the rear of the tender.

The principal objects of our invention are; to provide simple and inexpensive step board receiving brackets which are adapted to be adjustably fixed to the locomotive bumper beam or a suitable support at the rear of the tender; and further to provide interengaging means between the brackets and their supports, whereby the bracket attaching means is relieved of the weight of the step board and itsload.

With the above and other objects in view, our invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the construction illustrated in Figs. 1

to 4 inclusive, the step board supporting brackets are formed in pairs, one right and one left, each bracket comprising a pair of vertically disposed members 10, a horizontally disposed top rail 11, and a horizontally extending plate or bottom member 12. The members comprising each bracket are integrally formed, preferably by casting, and projecting forwardly from the lower portion ofthe plate 12 is one or more horizontally disposed plates 13. The step board 14 is positioned upon and fixed to these plates 13 in any suitable manner.

The plates 12 are of sufficient Width to extend a substantial distance above the top of the step board 1 1, and thus the upwardly projecting portions of said plates form stops for the feet of trainmen when mounting the step board. Such construction is not only desirable, but is essential for the reason that it or its equivalent is a requirement of the safety appliance laws.

upright members 10 of the brackets and formed in the faces of these plates and the front face of the beam or support 15 are vertical rows ofrecesses 17. These recesses receive pairs of lugs 18 which are formed integral with and project rearwardly from the members 10, thus forming an interengaging means for relieving the bracket attaching device of all strains due to the weight of the step board and its load. The vertical members 10 are provided with slots 19 through which pass attaching means, preferably in the form of bolts 20, the same passing through suitably located apertures in the plates 16 and the front wall of the beam or support 15.

In the construction illustrated in Figs. 5

to 7 inclusive, each bracket comprises a vertically disposed member 21, and a horizontally disposed member 22. The vertical member 21 is slotted as designated by 23 to receive attaching bolts 24, which latter also .passthrough the bumper beam or support. Lugs 25 are formed integral with and project rearwardly from the vertical member 21, and when. the bracket is applied to its support these lugs enter corresponding notches 26 formed in said support. This form of bracket is preferably cast and is adapted for use on either the locomotive bumper beam or a suitable support at the rear end of the locomotive tender.

In Figs. 8 and 9 we have illustrated a form of bracket which is preferably Wrought; the same being substantially L- shape and the vertical member being provided with slots 27 which receive the attachingv means, and with lugs 28 which enter corresponding recesses formed in the bumper beam or support.

Brackets of our improved construction are comparatively simple, can be easily and cheaply produced, provide firm and substantial means for supporting the step boards, which are positioned for the use of trainmen, at the front of a locomotive and to the rear of the tender, and said brackets can be readily adjusted upon their supports to vary the height of the step boards.

It will be readily understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of our improved step brackets, may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described, without "departing from the spirit of our invention,

the scopeof which isset forth in the appended claims.

We claim 2 1. The combination with a support, of a series of brackets fixed to said support interengaging means between the brackets and supports, and a step'board carried 'by the lower portions of said brackets.

2. The combination with a support, of a series of substantially L-shaped brackets fixed to said support interengaging means between the upper portions of said brackets and the support, and a step board carried by the lower ends of said brackets.

3. The combination with a support, of a series of step board carrying brackets adapted to be applied to said support, int-erengaging means between thefbrackets and support, and means for rigidly fixing the brackets to the support.

4. The combination with a support, of a series of stepboard carrying brackets adapted to be applied to said support, means for rigidly fixing the brackets to the support,

and means for relieving the bracket fixing are applied to the bearing faces of the support, projections on said brackets which are adapted to enter the recessed portions of said bearing faces, and means for rigidly fixing the brackets to the support.

7. The combination with a support having bearing faces, in each of which is formed a vertical row of recesses, of step board carrying brackets, portions of which are adapted to engage the bearing faces of the support, and lugs on said brackets which are adapted to engage in said recesses.

8. The combination with a support having bearing faces, in each of which is formed a vertical row of recesses, of step board carrying brackets, portions of which are adapted to engage the bearing faces of the support, lugs on said brackets which are adapted to engage in said recesses, and attaching means seated in the brackets and the support.

9. A bracket of the class described, comprising a substantially L shaped member, the vertical leg of which is provided with an aperture adapted to receive attaching means projecting from the rear side of said vertical leg for engagement in a recess in the support for the bracket, and the horizontal leg of which bracket is adapted to receive a step board.

10. As a new article of manufacture, a bumper beam step bracket comprising a substantially L-shaped member, and a lug projecting rearwardly from the vertical leg of said bracket, which lug is adapted to engage in a recess in the support.

11. The hereindescribed bracket comprising a substantially L-shaped member, the vertical leg of which is provided with an opening adapted to receive attaching means, a projection on said vertical leg for engaging the support to which the bracket is applied, and the horizontal leg of which bracket is adapted to receive a step board.

12. An integrally cast bumper beam step bracket comprising a vertically disposed leg, a horizontally disposed leg, and a vertically disposed stop plate integral with the lower portion of the vertically disposed leg.

13. An integrally formed bumper beam step bracket comprising a pair of vertically 1,135,522 a mi disposed legs, a pair of horizontally dis- In testimony whereof we hereunto afix posed legs, and a vertically disposed stop our signatures in the presence of two witplate arranged between and projecting latnesses, this 23rd day of February, 1914. erally from the lower portion of the vertically disposed legs. HARRISON 14. A bracket of the class described com- LNOX' prising a substantially L-shaped member the Witnesses: vertical leg of which is provided with a W. I. FINCH, rearward projection and with a stop plate. JAS. GRATTON.

Uopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

